Polymer-Based Lab-on-a-Chip System Development

Nov 25 2005

CPI has provided considerable support for the development of new cleanroon facilities at the University of Teesside, which are currently under construction. Once established, the cleanroom will house advanced technology microfabrication equipment and enable the university to innovate a range of low-cost biochips and miniaturised devices. These innovations have numerous global applications in the field of medical diagnostics, aiding faster detection and more successful prognosis. The project will further strengthen the capabilities of the new Teesside Centre for Nanotechnology and Microfabrication.

Products and Technologies

This project aims to develop low-cost miniaturised devices with integrated microfluidics for bioanalysis. Microfluidic devices will be fabricated using laser micromachining, hot embossing and micro-injection moulding with mould fabrication using micro-milling. The capital investment from this project builds upon the Centre¡¦s existing research activities in the University Innovation Centre for Nanotechnology and Microsystems (UIC NanoTech).

Healthcare

Healthcare is an increasingly important driver for innovating new technologies. Advances in genomics and proteomics combined with the need to develop more preventative healthcare approaches have generated pioneering ways of thinking in medicine. New opportunities for innovating novel medical devices to aid faster and more accurate medical prognosis and targeted treatment have also been created.

Polymer Lab-on-a-Chip Technologies

Polymer based lab-on-a-chip combined with other technologies such as impedimetric, bioinformatics, optics and wireless communication offers a means to develop low-cost, reliable, faster and more accurate devices. These include point-of-care diagnostic instruments for cancer detection, deep vein thrombosis and prenatal screening.

Alternative Applications for Polymer Lab-on-a-Chip Technologies

Similar applications could also be deployed in other sectors, for example, genetic profiling at the crime scene for forensic analysis, or in food sector devices for the detection of specific illness-causing microbial pathogens.